Preload on my 450 Forks and Shocks

[pete]

Hey all, so as I've improved my jetting on my 450 and am able to push a little harder, I've discovered that while the Ikon fork springs and shocks have improved the suspension out of sight compared with stock, I still feel I could do with it being a little firmer.

So, I initially thought going from 15w to 20w fork oil would be a good way forward, but thinking further I think I'd prefer to just add some preload first.

The Ikon shocks are preload adjustable, so that's easy with the C spanner they provide, but the forks on mine don't have air pressure or anything like that.

So, to adjust preload, searching tends to reveal adding a PVC spacer under the cap bolt would be the way to go.

Any tips on how thick to start? I'm thinking 5mm...

And is any type of PVC pipe ok to use for this? I have some here but will need to check the diameter yet to see if it's suitable.

[Agemax]

any PVC pipe as long as the diameter is right Pete, its cheap enough to buy so make up different size spacers, 5,10,15,20mm etc and try different combo's until you get it how you like it. then just replace with a single spacer of the correct length,
its not a big job to swap spacers about

[pete]

Cool, cheers for that! I'll see what PVC I have around the place.

The hardest bit I can envisage is getting the cap bolts back on with the spacers installed... nothing a bit of effort shouldn't be able to solve

[Agemax]

Cool, cheers for that! I'll see what PVC I have around the place.

The hardest bit I can envisage is getting the cap bolts back on with the spacers installed... nothing a bit of effort shouldn't be able to solve

front end right off the floor, good socket on an extension and puuuuuuussssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh

[pete]

Haha yup you read my mind! Probably have to pop the 'bars off to do it but I can cope with that...